US Stocks Climb as Iran Peace Deal Boosts Risk Appetite, Tech Surges

U.S. stock indexes opened higher on June 18, 2026, with technology stocks leading a rebound as a preliminary U.S.-Iran peace agreement eased oil price concerns and boosted market risk appetite. This rally countered investor sell-offs from the previous day, which were triggered by hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7%, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9%, and the S&P 500 increased 0.8% in early trading. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 4.5%. The U.S.-Iran deal, signed by President Trump, is expected to normalize shipping through the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, causing Brent crude oil prices to fall 1.5% to near $78 per barrel. Intel (INTC) shares jumped nearly 10% on reports of a chip manufacturing agreement with Apple (AAPL). Despite the market rally, short-term U.S. Treasury yields remained elevated, reflecting persistent expectations for a September rate hike by the Federal Reserve. The Fed concluded its fourth consecutive meeting on June 17, 2026, holding rates steady but emphasizing that inflation risks now outweigh employment concerns.